WAUKESHA After 50 years of teaching the centuries- old art of Okinawan karate-do in Waukesha, the Authentic Ancient Arts dojo, 369 W. Main St., is running out of wall space. Black belt certificates, racks full of traditional kobudo weapons, and shelves packed with trophies earned around the world by Neil Stolsmark, the dojo’s head instructor, wrap around the room. Portraits of Stolsmark’s former masters displaying a lineage of teachers stretching back 300 years face where today’s students practice the ancient martial art. Both the dojo and its current head instructor, or sensei, have a long history. On Dec. 7, Authentic Ancient Arts celebrated its 50th anniversary. In 1959, the first karate school in Wisconsin opened in Milwaukee, called Milwaukee Academy of Karate and Judo. Ten years later, they branched into Waukesha where Stolsmark was living at the time and changed their name to Authentic Ancient Arts. “I got lucky that it was here in Waukesha,” Stolsmark said. This is where, about 40 years ago, Stolsmark started his journey into the world of Okinawan karate-do, which would eventually take him across the globe in his pursuit of mastering the ancient art. Dan Schroeder was the lead instructor of the dojo when Stolsmark joined, but in 1982, Stolsmark started to manage Authentic Ancient Arts and would go on to buy and own the dojo in 1985. In search of someone who could continue to train him in karate, Stolsmark began traveling to Okinawa, Japan to tutor under Shugoro Nakazato, who was declared a living cultural asset by the Japanese government. “He spoke broken English, and I spoke broken Japanese, so between the two we got along, no problem,” said Stolsmark. “Sometimes it’s kind of fun not being able to speak because then you have to pay so close attention to the physical moves.”
Stolsmark would go on to compete in tournaments around the world in countries like South Africa, Portugal, Greece, Italy and Australia. In 1991, Stolsmark won the world championships in Kyoto, Japan, winning both the kobudo weapons division and the full-contact fighting division. During 20 years of competing, Stolsmark earned around 100 grandchampionship trophies. To make way for the next generation of karate students, Stolsmark retired from competing in 2001 but continues to study the art. Despite getting to see so many countries in his travels, Okinawa is still Stolsmark’s favorite place to go and he has traveled to the island over 40 times. Okinawa is home to the largest concentration of centenarians in the world. It’s not uncommon for Okinawan karate masters to teach well into their 80s and 90s. “They’re the most wonderful people on the planet,” said Stolsmark. “They’re very giving, open and generous, and karate is a big part of their culture.” Stolsmark eventually met his wife, Rocky Stolsmark, through his time at the dojo. She is the only woman in the nation to become a 7th dan black belt in shorin-ryu Okinawan karate-do. The only other woman to achieve this rank in the world lives in Japan. Today, Stolsmark is an 8th dan black belt in karate and a 9th dan black belt in kobudo. The 57year-old sensei continues to pass on what he has learned to his students at Authentic Ancient Arts, and he is the president of a worldwide organization called Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei Kai. From children to two students over 80 years old, Stolsmark teaches people from different walks of life. People may start for different reasons like selfdefense, physical fitness, or curiosity from watching classic martial arts movies, but they stay because of the virtue that the art cultivates in its practitioner. “People develop their character, and that’s what’s key,” said Stolsmark. “In traditional Okinawa karate, they care more about your character than they do your skill.” For many, learning Okinawan karate-do transcends a hobby and becomes something more, where fellow students and instructors become like family. One student started at the dojo when she was 12 years old and now trains under Stolsmark at 50 years old. “A lot of these guys have trained together for 34 years,” said Stolsmark. “So the camaraderie is very strong.” Even as a karate master, Stolsmark continues to perfect his performances of various karate formal exercises, or katas. Stolsmark said there’s always something to learn when it comes to Okinawan karate, and there’s always someone to learn from.